AHMEDABAD: Congress in Gujarat today filed a complaint of alleged poll code violation against a religious leader for campaigning against the opposition party by using the platform of his spiritual discourse in the pollbound state. Of the two more complaints filed by the party with the Election Commission one is against a poll official for "touching the feet of chief minister Narendra Modi". "At the time of elections, yoga gurus and so-called religious babas, by way of...

RAMPUR: Reacting to Ashok Singhal's remark that India will become a 'Hindu Nation' by 2020, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan said the "disturbed" VHP patron's comment was a "conspiracy to destablise" the BJP government which was not paying any heed to him. Khan, the Uttar Pradesh Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs, while interacting with media here last night said that that the VHP veteran was "not keeping in...

NEW YORK: Multiple Guinness record holder American has built a 50-feet-long tennis racket, almost as big as a bus and claimed it to be the largest in the world, dedicated to Indian-origin spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy. The racket was built by city-native Ashrita Furman and a group of 20 followers of Chinmoy within 10 days and has been dedicated to the spiritual leader on the anniversary of 81st birthday, which falls on August 27. Furman...

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the demise of Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin , spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community. "In the passing away of Dr Syedna Burhanuddin, the Dawoodi Bohra Community has lost a spiritual leader of the highest order whose guidance and insightful teachings will continue to inspire people to follow the path of kindness and compassion," the President has said. The 102-year-old spiritual leader...

BEIJING: A Tibetan monk who was one of China's most prominent political prisoners has died in prison, a relative and human rights activists said on Monday, raising the prospect of an increase in resentment of the government in Tibetan regions. The United States, European Union and international rights groups had called for the release of the monk, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche , 65, who died on Sunday in Chuandong prison in the southwestern city of Chengdu ,...

IRVINE: It won't be a small, private affair when the Dalai Lama celebrates his 80th birthday this weekend in southern California. Hundreds of well-wishers are expected at a three-day Global Compassion Summit to mark the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's big day, with events Sunday through Tuesday at Anaheim's Honda Center and the University of California , Irvine. The Dalai Lama himself plans to deliver talks all three days on global compassion, creativity and...

KOCHI: Tibet does not want suppression from China , Nobel lauerate and Tibetian spiritual leader, Dalai Lama today said. 'We do not want suppression from china. It is the hard liners who wants suppression', Dalai Lama told reporters on the sidelines of a function here organised by 'The Friends of Tibet'. The Dalai lama, who arrived here this morning, said kerala society had always supported the cause of tibet freedom movement. The...

DHARAMSHALA: Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said on Sunday the Beijing Olympics should go ahead, refusing to call for a boycott despite a violent Chinese crackdown on protests in his homeland.

KOLKATA: The Dalai Lama today said he considered himself as a "son" of India and he carried the message of ahimsa wherever he went. Addressing students here, the Tibetan spiritual leader said wherever he goes he carries the message of ahimsa and the country's spiritual leaders should promote love and religious harmony in India and outside. "I consider myself as a son of India," he said. He said he had been inspired by the spiritual teachings...

NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE: US President Barack Obama plans to meet with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, despite China's opposition, the White House said Tuesday without giving a date. "The president told China leaders during his trip last year that he would meet with the Dalai Lama, and he intends to do so," White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters on Air Force One en route to New Hampshire. "The Dalai Lama is an internationally respected religious and...

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Tuesday said the state government would extend all help, including financial assistance, in holding a sermon programme by the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama at Kaza in June next. Dhumal conveyed this to a Buddhist delegation from Lahaul-Spiti district. The Tibetan spiritual leader would deliver sermons to devotees during Kalchakra ceremony. Dhumal told the delegation...

WASHINGTON: The small Tibetan community in the US is planning to celebrate the 80th birthday of their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in a grand ceremony for two days next week in New York. Senior US officials, members of Congress and prominent religious and civic leaders are expected to attend a public reception to celebrate with the Dalai Lama on July 19 in New York, according to a press release. In honour of his 80th birthday and in the presence of the Dalia...

NEW DELHI: Former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh on Saturday said India needs to be "more assertive" about its concerns regarding developments in Tibet and raise the issue with the Chinese. Mansingh, addressing a talk on the occasion of the 80th birthday of the Dalai Lama, said it was his personal view. "I do believe that we need to be more assertive about our concern about the Tibetans and their fate," he said. He said the...

LONDON: A group of Buddhists from the International Shugden Community today held a protest against the Dalai Lama, accusing him of religious persecution, even as the spiritual leader pleaded for religious tolerance and harmony. Fresh from an appearance at the Glastonbury music festival, where he spoke about the need for action on climate change, the Tibetan spiritual leader strongly condemned those who justified killing by using religion. In front of a small...

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia today met Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama here and said it was a "dream come true and a blessing". Kejriwal and Sisodia called on the Dalai Lama in Delhi and their meeting went on for 30 minutes. They said he was the "greatest humanitarian". They said the meeting was "a dream come true and a blessing". According to a release issued by the Delhi Government , the spiritual...

MATHURA: Seemingly worried over the present state of Yamuna here, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today called for a joint effort by the people to make the polluted river clean again. Ravi Shankar was here to discuss issues concerning the cleansing of Yamuna with sages, saints among others at an ashram in Parikrama Marg today. Speaking to mediapersons, he came down heavily on the residents of Vrindavan for polluting the river and maligning the identity of the...

BODH GAYA: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama was today presented the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation on the fourth day of the ten-day Kalachakra initiations here. The grand daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Ila Gandhi, presented the award, instituted in 2003, to the Dalai Lama at the Kalachakra ground here. Ila Gandhi, who is based in South Africa, is chairman of the Gandhi Development Trust , which gives the award. In his acceptance...

NEW DELHI: Emphasising on the need of meditation in day-to-day life, Tibetan Spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama today praised BJP's chief ministerial candidate, Kiran Bedi for introducing meditation programmes in Tihar jail during her tenure as the Director General of Prisons . "Meditation is the only way to heal the mind and body. Kiran Bedi introduced meditation in Tihar Jail and it was very effective. So doctors should also practice meditation and...

BEIJING: China today warned the US against the planned public appearance by President Barack Obama with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, saying it opposed foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama "in any form" to meddle in its domestic affairs. "China is opposed to any nation or government using the Tibet issue to interfere in China's domestic affairs, and opposed to any country's leader meeting with the Dalai Lama in any form," foreign ministry spokesman...

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: Yoga guru Ramdev and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have declined any Padma award for them reportedly being considered by central government on the occasion of the 66th Republic Day . In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Ramdev referred to media reports that the Government was considering his name for Padma Vibushan, the second highest civilian award but felt that as an "ascetic" he...